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drugs and drug action

Ergot alkaloids are produced by a parasitic fungus that grows on cereal crops. Among the many biologically active constituents of ergot, ergotamine and
ergonovine are the most important. The main effect of ergotamine is to constrict blood vessels, sometimes so severely as to cause gangrene of fingers and toes. Dihydroergotamine, a derivative, can be used in treating migraine. Ergonovine has...

production of LSD

potent synthetic hallucinogenic drug that can be derived from the ergot alkaloids (as ergotamine and
ergonovine, principal constituents of ergot, the grain deformity and toxic infectant of flour caused by the fungus
Claviceps purpurea). LSD usually is prepared by chemical synthesis in a laboratory. Its basic chemical structure is similar to that of the ergot alkaloids, and it is...

type of alkaloid

...in a complicated manner such that severe respiratory depression may follow stimulation. The drug lobeline (from
Lobelia inflata) is safer in this respect and is therefore clinically useful. Ergonovine (from the fungus
Claviceps purpurea) and ephedrine (from
Ephedra species) act as blood-vessel constrictors. Ergonovine is used to reduce uterine hemorrhage after childbirth,...